Railway-crossing signal



75. April 19 192 J. H. EsrEs E1' AL RAILWAY cRossING SIGNAL md Nov. 1:5, 192e JUIlS-.Fl WMP PIILLIAMS.

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Patented Api-.919, 192'?.

'earner JOHN H. ns'rns ann winnt/.iis r. wrnnraius, or roar wonrr-t, TEXAS.

RALWAY-CROSSING SIGNAL.

Our invention relates to signals and more particularly to railway and grade crossings of railways and street and road crossings; and the ob]- ect is to provide devices for making the crossing of railway tracks safe and ,for preventing accidents by furnishing audible signals which are automatically operated by passing automobiles, or otherv wheeled vehicles. The advantage is that a passing vehicle will automatically actuate the signal devices in time to give the driver thereof notice that he is about to cross a railway track and thisv takes place whether a train is coming or not. Such notice if heeded will prevent numerous and serious accidents. Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the inventionl willv be more particularly pointed out in the claims. p Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the signaling devices, viewing the devices from the side r of a roadway.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the signaling devices. Y

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating'a crossing equipped with the signaling devices.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The drawings show a depressible board or, platform 1 extending across a road way or street and supported by springs 2 of the required size and strength. The board'l is re-inforced by cleats 3 attached to the underside thereof. The signaling devices are actuated by the board 1 and its connections. Slabs l1 of sheet metal or other material are attached to the board 1 to form approaches for the board 1. A vertical rack 5 is attached to the board 1 and a pinion 6 is mounted on a shaft 7. A wheel or spool 8 is rigid with the shaft 7. A cable 9 is attached at one end to the spool 8 and extended to the signaling devices.

he board 1 is mounted over a trough or box-like structure 10 and the upper edges of thevbox limits the downward movement of the board 1 so that this board will go low enough. to actuate the signaling devices but not low enough to interfere with the v passing wheels of vehicles.

The cable 9 runs through a pipe 11 which .attached to a spring 18 which is attached to the box 1d. The drum 17 carries beaters 19 which have flexible connection with the drum 17. When the cable 9 is actuated by the depression of the board 1, the cable will revolve the drum 17 and cause the beaters 19 to strike the bell 16 and as the wheels of the vehicle leave the board 1. the cable 9 will be drawn backwardly by the springs 2 so that the beaters 19 will strike the ,bell

V16. The beaters 19 thus strike the bell on both movements of the cable 9.

llVhat we claim is,-

1. Warning signal apparatus comprising means embedded in a highway near a railway crossing comprising an open-top boxlike structure, a depressible board and springs supporting said board over said structure and normally slightly above the surface of the roadway, depending re-inforcing cleats-attached to said board adapted to move downwardly within said box structure and some of said cleats moving downwardly on the outside of said structure, said board extending over the edges of said box structure for limiting the downward movement of said board, a signaling mechanism. a spool and a. pinion provided with shaft journalcd in said box, a cable operatively connected with said signaling mechanisni and extending within said box structure and attached 'to said spool, and a rack attached to said hoard and engaging said pinion for actuating said pinion automatically when vehicles cross said board.

2. l'lilarning signal apparatus comprising means embedded in a highway near a raillll@ way crossing comnrising an open-top box- A like structure, a depressible board mounted above said structure with its ends proyecting beyond said box structure and springs sup-` porting said board normally slightly above said box structure, slabs attached to saidV board and resting on the highway to vform approaches to said board, a signaling apparatus, a spool and a pinion rigid with each other and provided with a shaft journaled in said box, a mok attached to :mid hoard and ndaptsd o engage saufl pinion fm ac mating the sam@ n vnhle opeatively con" uected fr0 said Sgmhxg apparatus; and 0x2 tending; within said box structure and :1t:- tached to said spool, and means normally holding said Cabley taut but resilient to pel 

